Concrete building construction



Sept. *9, 1924.

A. HENDERSON CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION --x-ned oci. 20.1923 5sheets-sheet 1 Y. .-rsept. 9.11924.` 1,508,325 AiHENDERSQN A CONCRETEBUILDING CONSTRUCTIONV File'd Oct. 20. 1.923 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. HENDERSON.ciascun-E BUILDING cous'rauc'rron Sept. 9 1924f Filed Oct. 20 1923 5Sl'xeetS-ShiefP/` n nu H H H llllllll...

1,508,325 A. HENDERSON concu-m BUILDING cons'rnucuou l AFiled oct. 2o.1923 's sheets-sheet 4 N f" W l Sept. 9, 1924,

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l 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2O 1923 ;ANvENToR Patented Sept. Q, 1924,

ALBERT HENDERSON, 0F PITTSBRGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SEIENDEEtONCORPORATION, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COREORATION OF IEENNSYL-VANIA.

'conca-nain BUILDING.- consrnncrroiv.

Application filed October 20, 1923. Serial No. 669,694.

f tem of concrete building construction in which columns, girders andbeams are built up of concrete blocks arranged end to end in series andhaving reinforcing tie rods eX- tending through the series of blocks,the blocks being preformed with longitudinal passages therein to receivethe rods, and the latter being embedded in cement or grout poured intosuch passages after the blocks are assembled in series, and the tie rodsinserted through the Valigned passages therein.

In the system disclosed in this patent, however, special blocks arerequired at the in tersections-of columns and girders and of girders andbeams, having tie rod receiving passages extending therethrough at rightangles to each otherto receive the tie rods 0f both the columnand girderor of the girder and beam.

By the present invention, I have provided a system of construction whichdoes not revquire these special blocks at the intersec tions of columnsand girders and of girders and beams, in that the reinforcing tie rodsof a column, for example, at the intersection of the column with agirder, are extended between meeting endfa-ces of certain of ythe blocksof the girder, or vice versa, the tie rods of the girder are extendedbetween meeting enc faces of certain of the blocks of the column. Thesame thing is true at the intersection of a girder or beam. I am,therefore, enabled to utilize throughout the construction blocks havingtie rod receiving passages extending in one direction therethrough only.'Y rlhis not only simplifies the problem of manufacture of the blocks atthe central plant, but also the erection problem. My present inventioneomprehends,however, in certain instances, the use at the intersections,@if @elimine and girdels and. Qf gilde and beams of blocks ofshorter-length, preferably half length, than the blocks vused throughoutthe body of the columns, girders and beams. These shorter blocks are ofthe same dimensions in cross section as the other blocks, and have thetie rod receiving passages extending in one direction therethrough'only.p They `may be formed at the central plant or provided at the point oflerection, in case of necessity, by cutting a full length block to theshorter length required. I

In the accompanying drawings, there are shown, for purposes ofillustration only, certain embodiments oft-he present invenn tion, itbeing understood that the drawings do not define the limits of theinvention, as changes maybe made in the construction therein disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of mybroader claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and partly in'section, thesection being taken on the line I-I of Figure'Q, of a column and girderconstruction in accordance with onev embodiment of my invention, thecolumn being continuous and the girders abutting` at i their endsagainst opposite side faces of the column; l

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in` section, of the structure shown inFigure l, the section being talrenon the line II-II of Figure l; v

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure l., of a modified form vof ycolumnand girder construction, the section being taken on the line III-III ofFigure 4, this view also showing' in section a beam connected to thegirder; y

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly insection, of the construction shown` inFigure 3, the section being taken on the line IIJ-IV of Figure 3; e

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of stillanother form of column and girder construction' embodying my inventionFigure 7 is a plan view of a column having a girder abutting againsteach face thereof and illustrating diiferent methods of ,connecting thegirders to the column;

Figure e is a sectional vier through the joint of a girder having adepth of two blocks, illustrating the manner of tying the superposedblocks together;

Figure 9 is a plan View, partly in section, of a girder and beamconstruction;

Figure 10 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of thestructure shown in Figure 9, the section being talren on the line X- ofFigure 9, and

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the type of blocltpreferably employed in the construction.

ln constriuztingl columns, girders and beams, l prefer to employ amolded concrete,` block of the general` type disclosed in my priorPatent Noa 1,446,796, granted February 27, 1928. This type of bloclr isalso illustrated in Figure 1l.. Referring to this figure, the block,which is designated by the reference character 2, is of rectangularshape, both in transverse and longitudinal section. ln each 4end face ofthe block there is provided a groove 3 which is spaced inwardly from thesides of the block to leave a marginal seating face 4l. This block isprovided with a suitable number of passages 5 extending longituda-llytherethrough and opening at their ends in the grooves 3 in the end facesof the block. These longitudinal passages are formed to receive metaltie rods, as will be hereinafter explained. l have shown the block asbeing provided with eight such passages, but it will be obvious that thenumber of passages may be increased or decreased, as desired. .Whereeight passages are provided, four ofthe same will preferably7 be locatedadjacent the corners of the block, and the other four opposite themiddle points of the sides of the block. The end faces of the block maybe provided with additional cross grooves 6 connecting theseintermediate passages. The through pas sages in the block leave the samewith a. solid central core, and the marginal and cross grooves 3v and 6in the end faces of the block leave projecting lugs 7, theJ end facesofl which are preferably flush with the marginal seating faces l, so asto provide additional seating surfaces at the ends of the block.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the column 8 shown therein is formed byarranging blocks 2 side by side to form a column havinga depth and widthequal to the width of two blocks, and the blocks are superposed in endto end relationship one upon the other to build the column up to thedesired height. It will be apparent that where the column has a sectionof four blocks as shown, there will be four vertical series of blocksforming the column. The blocks in each vertical series will have the tierod receiving passages 5 thereof in alignment. A tevery joint in theColumn, a reinforcing tie rod or frame 9 will preferably be inserted inthe grooves 3 in the end faces of the blocks, in order to tie the fourvertical series of blocks together at the joints.

After a column has been builtup to the desired height, shores areerected and girders 10 formed by aligning series of blocks on the shoresand placing these series of blocks side by side and one upon the otherto form girders of the desired section. ln Figures 1 and 2 l have shownthe girders as having a section consisting of four blocks arranged sideby side. At the joints reinforcing frames 9 may be placed as in thecolumn construction, and for the same purpose, that is, to tie togetherthe series of blocks forming the girders. At the intersection of thecolumn with the girders, blocks 11 of shorter length than the blocks maybe employed. rlhe blocks 2 will preferably be made of a size so as tohave a weight to be conveniently handled by a workman. A block in theform of a twelve inch cube is a convenient size andI will weighapproximately 125 pounds, more or less, lllhere eight through holes areformed, the distance between the corner holes will be approximately sixrinches for a twelve inch block. This enables me to employ at theintersection of the column with the girders a block 11 of half thelength of the blocks 2. After the girders have been formed as described,reinforcing tie rods 12 may be inserted through the aligned passages 5in the lower portion of the bottom series of blocks of the girders.rlhese rods will extend across the top of the column, and will belocated in the grooves 8 in the end faces of the blocks 13 at the top ofthe column. lt will be obvious that it will be necessary to chip out theblocks, as at 14 in Figure 11, in o rder tovaccommodate these tie rods.lt will also be nec essary to chip out the blocks in order toaccommodate the reinforcing frames 9. After the tie rods 12 have beeninserted, half blocks 11 maybe placed on top of the blocks 13 at the topof the column, and then other reinforcing rods 15 inserted through thealigned passages in the upper portion of the lower series of alignedblocks of the girders. Y

A second course of half bloclrs may then be placed upon the Erst courseand tie rods 16 inserted through the aligned passages in the lowerportion of the upper series of blocks of the girders. Then anothercourse of ialf blocks be superposed on the second course and tie rods 17inserted through the aligned passages in the upper portion of the upperseries of blocks of the girders, fter this has been done, cement orgrout i y be poured through chipped out open s 1S in the upper faces ofthe girders the joints to iii-ll the longitudiico nal passages andembedthe reinforcing rods and to fill the grooves in the meeting endfaces of the blocks and embed the reinforcing frames 9 therein. Afterthis cement or grout hasset, the blocks constituting the girders will beunited into a monolithic structure.

After the girders have been constructed After this cement or grout hasset, the blocksconstituting the column will also have become united intoa monolithic structure.

While I have described the column as having apsection equal to fourblocks,- and the girders also as having a section equal to four blocks,itwill be understood that the column and girders may have a section ofone block or of a plurality of blocks, depending upon the load to besupported thereby. It will be seen that this method of uniting columnsand girders does not require any special blocks yat the intersection ofthe column and girders, exceptA blocks of reduced length. The purpose ofusing half blocks is merely to permit additional reinforcing tie rods 15and 17 to be used in the girders. If these tie rods were omitted, fulllength blocks could be employed at the intersection.

This method of construction also obviatesA and that the ycement or groutforms such a strong bond between the rods and the blocks that the rodswill shear without showing any relative longitudinal movement betweenthe rods and the blocks. This method of construction also obviates anynecessity for field concrete work at the intersections of the girdersand columns, thereby reducing ,the cost of construction by eliminatingthe forms required for such. work.

If desired, the girders shown in Figure 1 could be formed on the groundand hoisted into position by a crane or the like. In this case, however,the reinforcing tie rods 12, 15, 16 and 17 would not extend continuouslythrough the column, but these tie rods Vin each girder would terminateat a point- 0c over the center of the column. Each girder would beformed into a monolithic structure on the ground and half blocksllinserted between the projecting ends of the tie rods.

pleted in the manner previously described.

This modified form of construction would obviously eliminate the expenseof erecting the shores for supporting the girders while beingconstructed.

In Figures 3 and 4 there is illustrateda modification in which a column20 is first built up to the desired height and then a girder 21 isconstructed to extend continuously over the top of the column, andthereafter the construction of the column lcontinued above the girder.In other words, in the form of construction showny in Figures l and 2,the column extends continuously through the girder, whereas in theconstruction shown in Figures 3 and 4 the girder extends continuouslylthrough the column. T he method of constructing the column and girder,as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is substantially Ythe same as the' methodof constructing the girder and column shown in Figures 1 and2,'exceptthat ink Figures 3 and 4 full length blocks are employed at theintersection of the girder and column, instead of half blocks.

In Figures 3 and 4I have also shown a beam 22 intersecting and connectedto the girder. This beam, as shown, is constructed of a single series ofaligned blocks having the reinforcing tie rods extending longitudinallytherethrough, `so that the cross sectional area of the beamis equal tothe cross sectional area of a single block. Obviously, however, `thebeam might be constructed so as to have a cross sectional area equaltothe cross sectional area of a plurality of blocks. The beam extendscontinuously through the two upper courses of the girder 21, and issupported upon the lower courses of said girder. By reference to Figure5 it will be seen that reinforcing tie rods 23 of the two upper coursesof blocks in the girder 21 extend between meeting end faces of blocks24, 25 and 26 kof the beam. Figure 5 also illustrates clearly the mannerof tying together the four blocks, of which the cross -section of thegirder is composed, by means of a reinforcing frame 9 positioned in thegrooves 3 in the end faces of the blocks. It will be noted that theblocks are chipped out at 14, as previously explained. to accommodatesuch frame.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated a further modification of column andgirder construction. Forv constructing the column and girder shown inFigures 3 and 4, it is necessary to erect shores for supporting thegirder while being erected. The girders 2,7, shown in Figure 6, may beformed into a monolithic structure on the ground and then hoisted intoposition and connected to the column 28. It will be noted that eachgirder terminates in half blocks 29, and that rein.-

forcing rods 30 are positioned between the meeting end faces of thesehalf blocks and thev adjacent full length blocks 3l in the girders.These reinforcing rods 30 project above and below the upper and lowerfaces of the girders, so that when the girde-rs are hoisted intoposition, the lower projecting ends of these rods may be inserted incerT tam of the vertical tie rod receiving passages in the column 28,whereby the girders are effectively tied to the column. In continuingthe construction of the column above the girdersnhe upper projectingends of the rods 30 will extend into certain of the tie rod receivingpassages in the lower portion of the, column above the girders, therebyeffectively tying the columnv above the girders to the girders.

Figure 7' shows a column 32 whose section is composed of four blocks andwhich has four girders 33, 34, 35 and 36 connected thereto and abuttingagainst the four sides of the column. The girders 33 and 34 are shown ashaving a width equal to the width of two blocks, the same as the widthof the column. The girders 35 and 36, on the other hand, have a Widthequal to the width of one block only. It will be noted that girder 35abuts against a side of the column so as to have one longitudinal faceof the girder flush with a side of the column, whereas girder 36 abutsagainst a side of the column so as to be positioned centrally of suchside. This illustrates the flexibility of my method of construction. l

Figure 8 shows a section through a girder having a width equal to thewidth of a single block and a depth equal to the depth of two blocks,the section being taken at a joint in the girder to illustrate themethod of tying the upper and lower courses of the gird'er together bymeans of reinforcing frames 37 similar to the reinforcing frames 9areviously described.

higures 9 and 10 illustrate a modified method of girdcr and beamconstruction. In Figure 4 have shown the beam as being continuousthrough the upper courses of the girder. In the construction shown inFigures 9 and 10, the upper courses of the girder 38 are continuous, andthe beams 39 and 40 abut at their ends against the opposite side facesof the girder. Half blocks 41 may be employed in the upper courses ofIthe girder at the intersection between the girder and the beams, and thereinforcing rods 42 of the V4beams may extend between the meeting endfaces of these half blocks 4l and the adjacent full length blocks 43.

While my invention is particularly concerned with the use of concrete asthe material from which the blocks will be formed at the central plant,it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use ofthis parteular material, as the blocks may be formed of other suitablematerials.

' The `advantages of my improved system of constructioirwill beapparent. By constructing columns, girders and beams from preformedblocks and extending the reinforcing tie rods of a girder, for example,between meeting end faces of certain of the blocks of a column at theintersection between the girder and column. I am enabled to utilizeblocks of the same structure throughout the construction. Fieldconcretev work and the expensive forms therefor are entirely eliminated,and the amount of skilled labor required at the point of erection (isreduced to a minimum. No special bracket blocks are required at theintersections between columns and girders and girders and beams, andunit blocks may be employed of a weight to be conveniently handled by aworkman. Any desired section of column or of girder or of beam may beobtained, as my method of construction enables the columns, girders andbeams to be constructed in courses, and these courses tied together atthe joints and united into a monolithic structure.

I claim:

l. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other and each comprising blocks arranged. endto end in series, one of said members having reinforcing means extendinglongitudinally of and tying together its series of blocks, saidreinforcing means extending between meeting end faces of certain of theseries of blocks of the other of said members, substantially asdescribed.

2. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other and each comprising blocks arranged endto end in series, one of said members having reinforcing means extendinglongitudinally of and tying together its series of blocks, saidreinforcing means extending between meeting end faces of certain of theseries of blocks of the other of said members, said meeting end facesbeing grooved to receive said reinforcing means, substantially asdescribed.

3. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other, one of said members comprising concreteblocks arranged in series end to end and united into a monolithic mass,the other of said members comprising concrete blocks arranged end to endin series and united into a monolithic mass and having reinforcing meansextending therethrough and completely surrounded by the material of saidblocks, said reinforcing means extending between meeting end faces ofcertain of the series of blocks of the first member, substantially asdescribed.

4. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other and each comprising blocks arranged endto end in series, each ofvsaid members having reinforcing meansextending longitudinally through its series of blocks, the saidreinforcing means of one of said members extending between meeting endfaces of certain of the series of blocks of-the other of said members,substantially as described.

5. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other and each comprising blocks arranged endto end in series, the said series of blocks of one of said membershaving grooves in their end faces spaced inwardly from the sides of theblocks, grouting lilling said grooves and uniting said blocks into amonolithic mass, and reinforcing means extending longitudinally throughsaid blocks and between meeting end faces of certain of the series ofblocks of the other of said members, substantially as described.

6. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other and each comprising blocks arranged endto end in series, one of said members abutting at one end against a sideof the other of said members and having reinforcing means extendinglongitudinally through its series of blocks and between meeting endfaces of certain of the series of blocks of the other of said members,substantially as described.

7 Building construction, comprising a member having blocks arranged endto end in series, two aligned members having their adjacent ends inabutting relationship with opposite sides of the first mentioned memberand each comprising blocks arranged end to end in series, andreinforcing means extending longitudinally through the series of blocksof said aligned members and between meeting end faces of certain of theseries of blocks of said first mentioned member, subetantially asdescribed.

8. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and inter-v secting each other and each comprising blocks arrangedend to end in series, one of said members abutting at one end against aside of the other of said members and having reinforcing means extendinglongitudinally through and tying together its series of blocks, saidreinforcing means extending between meeting end faces of certain of theseries of blocks of the other of said members and constitutingsubstantially the sole means for taking the shear at the joint betweensaid members, substantially as described.

9. Building construction, comprising two connected members extending atan angle to and intersecting each other, each of said members comprisingblocks arranged end to end in series and tied together by reinforcingmeans extending longitudinally therethrough, all of said blocks of saidmembers being of the same form and having the passages for receiving thereinforcing means extending in one direction therethrough only,substantially as described.

l0. Building construction, comprising two members extending at an angleto and intersecting each other, one of said members comprising blocksarranged end to end in series and the other of said members comprising aplurality of courses of blocks placed side by side, the blocks in eachcourse being arranged end to end in series and tied together byreinforcing means extending 1ongitudinally therethrough, and reinforcingmeans tying said courses together at the joints between the meeting endfaces of the blocks, at least a portion of the longitudinally extendingreinforcing means of one` of said members extending between meeting endfaces of certain of the blocks of the other of said members for tyingsaid members together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y ALBERT HENDERSON.

